Method for servicing a sliding closure at the spout of a metallurgical vessel, and a slide closure

ABSTRACT

In a method for automated maintenance by means of a robot the precise position of a metallurgical vessel and a sliding closure (10) at the maintenance location is automatically determined and thereafter a drive is mounted by this on the sliding closure (10). The sliding closure is then released by the drive and at least one refractory closure plate (19, 21) can be inserted by the robot into a slider unit (20) and in a housing (11) of the sliding closure (10) or can be removed from this. It is possible to change from this automated maintenance by the robot to a manual maintenance of the sliding closure (10) at the maintenance location and vice versa. During automated maintenance, the closure plates (19, 21) are inserted together with a cassette (15, 25) into the housing (11) and into the slider unit (20) or are removed from this. Conversely, during manual maintenance these cassettes (15, 25) are fixed in the housing (11) or in the slider unit (20) and the closure plates (19, 21) are manually inserted direct into the cassettes remaining in the sliding closure (10) and centered or fastened therein or released. Thereby a switch can be made very simply from an automated to a manual maintenance and the reverse,

The invention relates to a method for maintenance of a sliding closure at the outlet of a metallurgical vessel including a sliding closure in accordance with the preamble to claim 1 and/or 6.

With a known method according to the published document EP-2 056 983 a method and/or an installation is disclosed of a sliding closure mounted at the outlet of a vessel for molten metal. This installation is provided with at least one tool magazine, at least one spare part magazine and with means for opening and closing the sliding closure. For this purpose, a robot provided with an automatic grip changing system and a control system is available, which, firstly, is capable of automatically detecting the precise position of the vessel or the sliding closure. It can then actuate the means for opening and closing the sliding closure and, depending on the condition of the individual components that might require replacement, can take tools and/or spare parts from the magazines surrounding it and carry out cleaning operations, component removal and replacement or reinstallation.

On this basis, the task forming the basis of the present invention has been to further develop a method for maintenance operation of the type described above that is optimally adapted to the harsh operating conditions in the steelworks and, in particular, to the ladle area.

This problem is solved according to the invention in accordance with the features of claim 1 and/or by a sliding closure having the features of claim 6.

With the method for maintenance of a sliding closure at the outlet of a metallurgical vessel in accordance with the invention, this can be changed from automated maintenance with the robot to manual maintenance of the sliding closure and vice versa, in part carrying out different operations.

Consequently, according to the circumstances at the maintenance location, it is very simple to change from automated to manual maintenance and thereby the operations for a plate replacement or for monitoring can be carried out in one or the other maintenance operation rationally and successfully.

It is very advantageous for automated maintenance for the closure plates to be kept together with a cassette in the housing and inserted in the slider unit and/or removed from this; in manual maintenance operation, however, these cassettes are fixed in the housing or preferably also in the sliding unit and the closure plates are manually inserted directly into these cassettes and centered therein or fastened or released.

With sliding units according to the invention, a cassette is kept in the housing and/or in the slider unit to receive a closure plate, which can be fixed therein or released, respectively by automatically lockable or releasable connecting means.

Preferably, for these connecting means for the removable cassettes at each end side at least one retaining means is provided and, opposite, at least one elbow lever mechanism with, corresponding recesses at one end and snap-in elements at the other. With this configuration of the cassettes, the same can be directly inserted or removed in automated maintenance without additional functions.

The invention together with further advantages of the same are explained in the following in more detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments by reference to the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding closure in accordance with the invention in an unfolded state;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the housing and the cassette of the sliding closure according to FIG. 1 as the cassette is being pushed into the housing;

FIG. 3 is the longitudinal section of FIG. 2 with the cassette pushed into the housing and in fixed position;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the sliding closure and the cassette of the sliding closure according to FIG. 1 during pushing of the cassette into the slider unit;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of the elbow lever mechanism during pushing of the cassette according to FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is the enlarged view of the elbow lever mechanism after the cassette has been pushed in as in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a plan view on the partially shown cassette with the clamping module for clamping a closure plate in the released state; and

FIG. 8 is the plan view of FIG. 7 with the clamping module in the clamped state.

The sliding closure 10 according to FIG. 1 essentially consists of a housing 11 which can be fastened to a vessel and a slider unit 20 pivotably linked to this by means of a hinge 14, which is shown in an unfolded open position. A refractory closure plate 19, 21 is respectively clamped in the housing 11 and in the slider unit 20 and are pressed together in the closed state of the sliding closure.

Such a sliding closure 10 is itself manufactured in a conventional manner and this is suitable preferably for a ladle containing molten steel for pouring in a continuous casting plant. However, it could be used with other vessels, for example with a converter or a distributor or perhaps with furnaces in the non-ferrous metals sector.

In the housing 11, on either side of the closure plate 19 a perpendicular retaining means 17 is arranged with rollers 17′ on the inside and outside, which in the folded state slide on ramp-like guide tracks, not shown in more detail, of T-groove shaped recesses 22 in the slider unit 20. These recesses 22 are provided with widening openings 23, through which the rollers 17′ are inserted or released. Therewith, the slider unit 20 is guided longitudinally on the housing 11 by a drive, not shown, usually by a piston/cylinder unit attached to the housing 11, of which the connectable coupling parts 18, 26 with the housing 11 or with the slider unit 20 are shown.

During pivoting of the slider unit 20, this is moved longitudinally relative to the housing by the drive, through the guidance of the rollers 17′ on the ramp-like guide tracks, into these recesses 22 and thereby the closure plates 15, 21 are clamped against one another and conversely released again.

On the mode of functioning of this sliding closure 10 in more detail, reference is made to the document EP 1 119 428, in which the details of the interaction of the retaining means with the slider unit are explained at length.

According to the invention, a metallic cassette 15, 25 is contained in the each of the housing 11 and the slider unit 20 to receive the closure plates 15, 21, which can be respectively which can be respectively fixed therein or released by automatically lockable or releasable connecting means.

In the cassettes 15, 25, clamping modules 45 extending on either side of the closure plates 19, 21 are each associated with a clamping device 40, by means of which the closure plates 19, 21 with their four external sloping surfaces 19′ can be fixedly clamped, as is explained in detail in the following.

Furthermore, centring elements 13 and their corresponding guide elements 12 are arranged laterally of the cassette 15 or in the housing 11. Thus, the cassette 15 is precentered during introduction into the housing 11 and the centring elements 13 effect a fixation of the same in the displacement direction of the slider unit 20, in order to accommodate the resulting displacement forces in the clamped state of the plates.

According to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, cams 26 are provided as connection means for the cassette 15, insertable in the housing 11 on the narrower end side as retaining elements, and opposite preferably two elbow lever mechanisms 30 positioned parallel to one another, while corresponding recesses 27 are provided in the housing 11 with sprung retaining elements 48, 49 on one side and snap-action elements 28 on the other.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the cassette 15 is introduced at an angle into the housing 11, until its cams 26 at one end of the cassette are inserted precisely into this recess 27 in the housing 11 and, as a consequence of the pressure, the cassette is fixed in the housing without play through the snap-in element 28 by engagement with the elbow lever mechanism 28, as shown in FIG. 3.

According to FIG. 4, as connecting elements for the cassette 25 insertable into the slider element 20, pins 26′ are arranged as retaining elements on the narrower end and similarly, opposite them, two parallel elbow lever mechanisms 30, while the stops 29 corresponding to the slider unit 20 are provided as retaining elements on one side and the snap-in elements 28 on the other side. In addition, the cassette 25 is centered by means of centring elements 38 in corresponding guide elements 39 and is held in the displacement direction, so that the cassette also cannot move therein with back and forth movement of the slider unit.

The cassette 25 is inserted into the slider unit 20 almost obliquely, until its pins 26′ engage these stops 29 at one end of the slider unit, and as a consequence of the pressure, the cassette is fixed therein without play though the latching elbow lever mechanism 30 with the snap-in element 28.

The respective elbow lever mechanism 30 with the cassettes 15, 25, is shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, of a spring-loaded lever 31 hinged in the cassette 15, 25 and a snapper 33 rotatably attached to this, mounted pivotably on the cassette 15, 25 by means of a spindle 36. The lever 31 has limited adjustment in its longitudinal direction with a compression spring 34 in a sleeve 32 and, except in the dead center, it produces with it a continuously acting torque against the snapper 33.

In the released state according to FIG. 5, the snapper 33 is directed with aperture 33′ against the direction of pressure of the cassette. With further pressure this snapper 33 with its aperture 33′ comes into contact with the snap-in element 28 and is then rotated it until it rests with its underside 33″ on the housing 11 or the slider unit 20. Thus the lever 31 engaging the snap-in element 33, after passing through the dead point, effects a torque through the compression spring 34 on this snapper 33, until the same rests on a lower support 28′ of the snap-in element 28 and thus the retention of the cassette is assured.

Removal of the cassette 15, 25, is effected by a specific tensile force on the same, approximately perpendicularly away from the housing 11 or from the slider unit 20, so that the elbow lever mechanism 30 is turned by the resultant torque on the snapper 33 at the lower support 28′ in the direction towards the open position, as shown in FIG. 5. This also enables the cassettes 15, 25 to be released automatically.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show, in the context of the invention, a clamping device 40 capable of clamping the closure plate 19, in a cassette 15, which is composed of an adjustment clip 41, clamping modules 45 either side of the closure plate 19, with push rods 46 and wedges 47 as well as an elbow lever linkage 42. The clamping modules 45 are incorporated in the cassette 15 and each has a spring member 44, which is connected with a respective push rod 46 and acts so that in the braced state a spring pressure is produced in the stressing direction, as can also be seen in FIG. 4. This elbow lever linkage 42 consists of two levers 42′, which are connected to the adjustment clip 41, the cassette 15, and to each other. The one lever 42′ has a square opening or similar, into which a turnkey can inserted and can be turned by hand and thus enable opening or closing of the clamping device.

This clamping device 40 is shown in FIG. 7 in the open position, in which the wedges 47 adjustable with the push rods 46 are withdrawn and thus the closure plate is insertable or withdrawable. The two levers 42′ are rotated beyond the dead center and act together with the spring pressure, so that the adjustment clip 41 remains in the open position.

By turning in the opposite direction, the adjustment clip and with it the push rods 46 and also the wedges 47 are moved in the direction of the closure plate and then clamping of the plate 19 is enabled, as shown in FIG. 8.

With the cassette 25 that can be inserted into the slider unit 20 a similar clamping arrangement 40 is provided for clamping the closure plate provided as slide plate, as described above with the other cassette 15.

The sliding closure 10 described in detail above is suitable for an automated maintenance by a robot, not shown in more detail, at a maintenance location, as explained in detail and illustrated in the document EP 2 056 983 mentioned at the beginning. This vessel provided as ladle, after emptying of the metal melt, is located at the maintenance area, roughly in a horizontal position, so that the sliding closure mounted at its outlet is on its side and thus is easily accessible for this maintenance that is often required.

With a detection system that can be mounted on the robot, the precise position of the vessel and the sliding closure 10 at the maintenance area can be determined. Following this recognition, a drive can be mounted on the sliding closure and connected to a pressure source, with which the sliding closure 10 can be released and the slider unit 20 can be swung out, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Thereafter the robot can at times insert a refractory closure plate 19, 21 in this slider unit 20, or in the housing 11, or can remove it from here.

According to the invention, the automated maintenance with the robot can be changed over to a manual maintenance of the sliding closure 10 at the maintenance area or the reverse, where different working steps take place when automated maintenance becomes manual maintenance.

During automated maintenance, the closure plates 19, 21, together with the metal cassette 15, 25 are grasped by the robot from a magazine and correspondingly inserted into the housing 11 and into the slider unit 20, or are removed from them, while conversely, during manual maintenance operation, these cassettes 15, 25 are fixed in the housing 11 or in the slider unit 20 and the closure plates 19, 21 are inserted manually directly into these cassettes 15, 25 and centered therein or fastened or respectively released.

Advantageously, moreover, the mounting, not shown, for the drive with the coupling part 18 for the housing 11 is positioned on the opposite side for automated maintenance to that for manual maintenance, for simpler manipulation.

However, within the context of the invention, the maintenance of the sliding closure 10 can also take place in a mixed operation, with part manual and part automated operation stages. For example, the drive can be installed by robot and also the closure plates in the cassettes can be changed by it, while manual cleaning operations or the plates can be inspected for their condition after pouring.

The invention is adequately demonstrated with the above exemplary embodiment. However, it could obviously be implemented by other variants. Thus, these automatically lockable or releasable connection means for the cassettes can be implemented instead of the elbow lever mechanism by a door latch system or a snap-in mechanism with a compressible bent spring or similar.

Likewise, these connecting means could be arranged so that, for example, the elbow lever mechanism would be contained inverted in the housing or in the slider unit and the corresponding recesses and snap-in elements would be available in the respective cassette. In addition, retaining means could be provided, which would be positioned along the longitudinal side of the cassettes and the housing of the slider unit, for example as snap-in elements.

In principle, only one interchangeable cassette could be provided in the housing, while the slider unit would be removed as a whole by the robot or suspended again by means of hinges located on the housing.

The sliding closure could also be configured so that, instead of a housing and a slider unit mounted displaceably on it, an additional slider cover could be provided, which would be fastenable on the housing by attachment means. With an automated operation, the robot could tighten or release these fastening means with a suitable operating unit. 

1. Method for maintenance of a sliding closure on the outlet of a metallurgical vessel with which, by means of a robot for an automated maintenance, the precise position of the vessel and the sliding closure (10) at the maintenance location is determined and a drive is then mounted on the sliding closure (10), by means of which the sliding closure (10) is released or the same is released by disengaging fastening means via the robot and unfolded, at least one refractory closure plate (19, 21) can be inserted a slider unit (20) and/or in a housing (11) of the sliding closure (10) or can be removed from this, characterized in that this automated maintenance by robot can be changed to manual maintenance of the sliding closure (10), at the maintenance location, or vice versa where, with automated to manual maintenance, there are different operation stages in part.
 2. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that with automated maintenance, the closure plates (19, 21) are inserted together with a cassette (15, 25) into the housing (11) and into the slider unit (20) or are removed from these, whereas, with manual maintenance, these cassettes (15, 25) are fixed in the housing (11) or in the slider unit (20) and the closure plates (19, 21) are inserted manually directly into these cassettes remaining in the sliding closure (10) and are centered therein or fastened or respectively released.
 3. Method in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that these cassettes (15, 25) with the closure plate (19, 21) respectively inserted therein are gripped by the robot during automated maintenance and pushed into the housing (11) or into the slider unit (20) and these are automatically locked therein and conversely are withdrawn from this by the robot and preferably are automatically released.
 4. Method in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the cassette (15) is centered by means of centring elements (13) in corresponding guide elements (12) laterally to the housing (11) and are retained in the displacement direction.
 5. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the maintenance of the sliding closure (10) is carried out in a mixed operation with work steps partly manual and partly automated.
 6. Sliding closure at the outlet of a metallurgical vessel, preferably for implementation of the method in accordance with claim 1, with a housing (11) that can be fastened to the vessel and a slider unit (20), displaceable longitudinally to it, in which a refractory closure plate (19, 21) can be inserted, characterized in that a cassette (15, 25) is contained in the housing (11) and/or in the slider unit (20) to receive a closure plate (19, 21), which respectively can be fixed or released therein by automatically lockable and preferably automatically releasable connecting means.
 7. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that for the connecting means for the removable cassettes (15, 25), on one end face of each at least one retaining element (26, 26′) or at least one elbow lever mechanism (30) and opposite at least one elbow lever mechanism (30) is provided, while for the housing (11) and the slider unit (20) at least one corresponding receiver element (27, 29) on one side and a snap-in element (28) on the other side are provided, wherein the respective cassette (15, 25) with the retaining element (26, 26′) can be pushed into the housing or into the slider unit at an angle and then be fixed there by the pressure through the engagement of the elbow lever mechanism (30) with the snap-in element (28).
 8. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that a respective elbow lever mechanism (30) comprises a spring-loaded lever (31) pivotally connected in the cassette (15, 25) and a snapper (33) rotationally connected with this, pivotably mounted on the cassette by means of a spindle (36), wherein the lever (31) has limited adjustment in its longitudinal direction with a compression spring (34) in a sleeve (32) and with it a continuously acting torque can be produced for the snapper (33).
 9. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that as retaining element, at least one cam (26) or a pin (26′) in the respective cassette (15, 25) and in the housing (11) and the slider unit (20) at least one corresponding recess (27) or one abutment (29) are associated.
 10. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that for removal of the cassette (15, 25) from the housing (11) or from the slider unit (20), a specific tensile force can be produced on the same approximately perpendicularly from the housing (11) or from the slider unit (20), in which this elbow lever mechanism (30) can be rotated by the torque resulting on the snapper (33) with the lower support (28′) in the direction of the open position, whereby the cassettes can be automatically released.
 11. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the cassette (15) is provided with lateral centring elements (13) and the housing (11) with corresponding guide elements (12).
 12. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that a clamping device (40) which can fixedly clamp the respective closure plate (19, 21) is contained in a corresponding cassette (15, 25), and is composed of an adjustment clip (41), of clamping modules (45) extending either side of the closure plate with rams (46) and wedges (47) together with an elbow lever linkage (42) for actuating the clamping device(40).
 13. Sliding closure in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the clamping modules (45) are embedded in the cassette (15, 25) and have a spring member (44), which is connected to a respective ram (46) acting to produce a spring pressure in the clamped state. 